What is the purpose of childbirth?
Since time immemorial, mothers and those who took their child have sought to find the ideal analgesic. The appearance of synthetic analgesics and anesthetics turned the view on childbirth and changed the obstetrics. When a woman has normal, uncomplicated birth, the question of the superiority of anesthesia is always associated with the question of risk. After all, there is no painkiller yet, which would be recognized as absolutely safe and had no consequences. And we are beginning to think more and more about the meaning of painless births. After all, the goal in childbirth is not getting pleasure and maintaining the comfort of a woman. The goal is to give birth to a healthy strong child and become a healthy, happy and loving mother. Natural childbirth retains a lot of strength for the young mother (physical and moral), give a sense of self-satisfaction. Childbirth is the joy of one's own knowledge and creativity, meeting with the child. This is a test in which you must take responsibility, make decisions and act. This is personal growth and development. That is why the question of natural methods of anesthesia is becoming more urgent.
What is pain?
Let's try to figure out what kind of pain is in childbirth. What is its nature? What is its meaning? Answers to these questions will help to understand how to avoid pain. So, pain is always a cry from the body about imminent danger. In our body there are no pain receptors per se. For example, in muscles there are stretch receptors. With the overextension of the muscle there is a threat of its rupture, so the signals from the stretch receptors will go with such force and frequency that we will begin to perceive them as painful. The brain warns us about the danger of overgrowing and tearing with pain and makes us stop this stretching. If we did not receive this pain signal, we could damage our own muscle. Or, for example, with prolonged exercise, the working muscle begins to suffer from a lack of oxygen. She also begins to signal this to the brain. The signal is perceived by us as a pain and requires an immediate change in the load. The pain in childbirth helps the mother to orient herself in the ongoing process and, if necessary, change her behavior. Childbirth is the strongest muscle tension involved in contractions (longitudinal muscles of the uterus body) and stretching (cervical ring muscles, pelvic floor muscles, perineal tissues). But tension is not pain. The threshold of pain sensitivity is not a constant value inherent in every person (as it is usually considered). For each of us, this threshold can vary depending on the state of the organism. At rest, it is higher, and in order to feel pain, a greater force of influence is required. In alarm, this threshold is reduced. That is why the fear of pain causes the very pain. Because fear is a state of anxiety, in which the level of stress hormones increases and the threshold of pain sensitivity decreases (that is, the body becomes very sensitive to any pain signals). And our bodies, in a state of stress, receive less oxygen, begin to suffer from hypoxia and signal it to the brain with pain. Feeling this pain, a person begins to get even more worried and frightened (especially in childbirth, because there is uncertainty ahead). Thus, the vicious circle of fear - tension - the pain closes. Therefore, long before the birth of a woman it is important to prepare for an understanding of the processes that will occur in her body. To realize the mechanism of pain and learn to control your body and pain. This is what the training courses for childbirth do.
Prepare a sled in the summer
In nature, the preparation of a woman for natural painless and harmonious birth begins long before the birth, even long before her pregnancy. Yes Yes! Preparation begins at the time of her birth and subsequent development. When the mother of a little girl (the future mother) gives her information and a general mood for childbirth. This transfer occurs mainly not through words, but through the feelings and emotions that mother experiences during childbirth, and the subsequent upbringing of her daughter. After all, the child is very sensitive to our experiences, it can not be deceived. This is a wonderful reserve, which can reward us mom, and we - our daughters. Alas, not everyone receives such a gift from moms. Moreover, in a woman who has not received a dominant childbirth as a child, a negative attitude toward childbirth and fear continues to be reinforced through stories of acquaintances and reading of various stories. Here, the schools of young parents come to the aid, where future mothers study the physiology of the birth processes, their hormonal and emotional regulation. A woman can help the body in the preparation for childbirth, leading a healthy lifestyle, adhering to separate nutrition, performing sets of exercises and hygiene procedures. Understanding the hormonal and emotional mechanisms of birth control and the occurrence of pain, women learn to "break" the vicious circle (fear - tension - pain) through special exercises for relaxation and visualization. These techniques are used to relieve the fear of forthcoming births, and then applied in labor for self-relaxation and prevention of pain. Knowledge of the processes occurring in childbirth allows mothers to create skills of behavioral options in childbirth and the use of various postures, breathing techniques, massage, interaction with a partner and a doctor. Let's consider what will happen in childbirth and how you can help yourself.
Birth began!
You understand that these unusual sensations have never been experienced before (for those who have already given birth, it's easier, they know these sensations and will not be mistaken). On the one hand, newcomers are heavier, as there is no certainty that these are true fights, because often births begin with precursors, which, according to the sensations and the essence of physiological processes, are the same fights, only not regular and not so intense. On the other hand, it is easier for beginners, because they do not have their own negative experience, which can automatically "turn on" the state of fear. she can do everything herself, you just let her do her work Imagine how the neck opens, smile This smile helps the neck to relax, it stretches easily and elasticly, like the muscles of your lips in a smile. Aninism knows what to do, it does not need control, trust the process, so what do you feel? Strong inner tension, stress is work, your job is to provide the working (uterus) with comfortable working conditions.
What the uterus needs and how you can help her
♦ Continuous access of fresh air to the "workplace": your quiet deep breathing will ensure the uninterrupted supply of oxygen to the muscles of the uterus.
♦ Regular nutrition of the "worker": the supply of nutrients to the blood vessels is necessary for the muscles for the energy of contractions.When you are calm and evenly breathe, the blood vessels provide the muscles of the uterus with everything necessary.In a state of stress, the blood vessels contract, the muscles will suffer, and send pain impulses to the brain.
♦ Cleaning the "workplace" of debris: waste nutrients - metabolites - interfere with effective muscle contractions and easy stretching of the cervical muscles All metabolites are carried away with blood, which means that this can be achieved by your relaxation and breathing resulting in good blood flow through the uterus.
♦ Creating a positive emotional climate in the "workplace", an atmosphere of trust and support. Your uterus works with full dedication. Trust it, encourage and encourage it.
♦ Be attentive to the demands of the "worker": if he sends you a fatigue signal (pain or a feeling of excessive stress), try to change the position.The shift of the center of gravity can improve the condition.
♦ Do not drive a worker, faster - does not mean better.Generation can not become painful due to the fact that they last long, but they can become lingering because of pain.The child can not be born until the neck is opened. (elasticity, relaxation), smile to her, because your smile is a projection of the cervix.With clenched lips and clenched teeth, we try to fight the pain, but we fight ourselves. A prepared partner will help you apply all the techniques of relaxation
It is very important to relax! This can be learned.
♦ Take care of your amniotic fluid. If possible, do not resort to the opening of the amniotic fluid before the second stage of labor, that is, until the neck is fully opened and the baby tries to appear. As long as the bubble is intact, you are not limited in time, and the neck stretches under the soft pressure of the water pad - these are soft, painless sensations when opened.
The strength and elasticity of the amniotic fluid will depend on your metabolism and nutrition during pregnancy and, of course, on the mood during labor. "Support" him in the most stressful moments, and he will provide you with painlessness of the first period of childbirth. So, in the first period of labor, when there are contractions, moms have no time to be afraid! You have many things to do: you need to ensure a quiet work for the working woman. relaxation!
What helps to relax?
♦ Choosing a convenient position. Often this position with a displaced center of gravity (either lying on its side, or when walking, or on all fours). Some people like the different poses squatting. The positions can change during the delivery. Choose the most comfortable for yourself. Remarkably helps fitbol (uniform rocking on it soothes and relaxes). If you give birth with a partner, he will help to get comfortable or offer himself as a support. Here the partner's prenatal preparation should be no less than that of the woman in labor. And most importantly, trust in each other and complete mutual understanding.
♦ Breathing, singing, prayer. The task is to breathe without delay in the most convenient way for you. When the force of the fights is great and at the peak the breath is intercepted, you can use forced exhalation (through puffy lips, voiced on the vowels or consonants), singing (it will make the rhythmic breathing, in addition the lyrics can distract you), reading the prayer. If you give birth with a partner, his calm breathing is your assistant. He can breathe next to you and set the rhythm.
♦ Comfortable temperature. The body can relax only at a comfortable temperature. If your mother is cold, you need to warm up (hot tea, a warm shower, in the tub, under the blanket). A partner can rub feet.
♦ Water. Massage by a stream of the shower is a wonderful remedy (massage of the perineum, abdomen, waist). A warm bath is a great way to spend the first period of labor without pain.
♦ Autorealaxation. If you ever dreamed of being on the beach, covered your eyes and smiled, then you already know the elements of visualization and autorelaxation. The body will feel what you want. It is good, if during pregnancy you give it enough time, so that during the birth, relaxation would be easy for you. If childbirth is a partner, the calm relaxing voice of a confident assistant can replace anesthesia. It is very important that the partner himself is relaxed. "Adrenaline is contagious" - the excitement of a partner can be transmitted to the mother. On the contrary, his relaxation will relax and the woman in childbirth.
♦ Massage and self-massage. Massage allows you to relax the tense muscles of the body. Relaxation of the body is transmitted to the internal organs. Any massage that you own will do. It's great if you know the reflex points or possess the technique of a sujok. Even better, if you make a massage assistant, because when self-massage a woman has to strain her hands, and this tension can be transmitted to other parts of the body. Massage can be varied: cervical-collar area, lower back, hands, feet. The main thing is to feel the woman in childbirth, to ask her the rhythm of relaxation.
♦ Aromatherapy. A wonderful assistant for moms who managed to get to know her before giving birth. All the oils that helped to relieve stress and relax during pregnancy are likely to help in childbirth in the first period. Everything is individual here, but most often it is lavender and orange. Stimulating mixture (orange, eucalyptus, cloves, jasmine), diluted in avocado oil, you can do a stomach massage.
♦ Homeopathy. Especially individually, provided that a woman has the opportunity to consult her homeopath during the delivery process. The most commonly used Actea racemosa 15 (one dose at the beginning of labor eliminates fear). Caulophillum 6 (favors effective uterine contractions), Gelsemium 15 (with poor neck opening), Chamomilla 6 (with too painful contractions with bouts of severe anger). As a rule, all listed methods are used in the aggregate. Mom feels that she needs every moment. The most important thing is just to trust yourself! As the labor activity progresses, the intensity and duration of contractions increase, and the intervals between them decrease. Sometimes by the end of the first period the frequency of contractions may decrease. This is the deceleration phase - respite, which takes the body for 40 minutes before the active period of attempts. The neck remained open for another 1-2 cm.
We are making efforts easier
So, the most difficult (relaxation with a strained uterus) is already behind. Ahead of the second period of labor. This is the phase of exile (in fact, the birth of the child in the sense in which we are accustomed to understand it). The second phase, as a rule, is under the supervision of a midwife and a doctor. The child passes through the birth canal, which can be adjusted for him. Especially if the mother has the opportunity to change position. It is very important that she herself could choose a comfortable position for attempts. At that stage, the woman's organism produces a huge amount of endorphins, onyolike analgesics, and they anesthetize to a certain limit: the mother must feel the course of labor to change the position and rhythm of breathing. the woman in childbirth completely and deprive her of sensitivity, because then you can skip the pain signal of the body about hypoxia or the threat of muscle rupture .It is important: endorphins blunt pain sensitivity, but not with This is why it is not recommended to use medical anesthesia in the second stage of labor.It is very dangerous for both the mother and the baby if an anesthetized woman quickly enters the second stage of childbirth.Thus: the main analgesia in the second period is the endorphins. they need to be emotionally calm (there is no place for fear again, we need a positive attitude to a very early meeting with the child - the stage of attempts is short-lived). In the intervals between attempts (1-2 minutes) the mothers do not usually feel anything. This is the time for quiet breathing and autorelaxation. Relaxation will regain strength and raise the threshold of pain sensitivity. When the beginning of the journey begins (regardless of whether the midwife says to push or not), your task is not to hold your breath, because breathing is oxygen and nutrition for working muscles and stretchy perineal tissues!
During attempts, various types of breathing can be used
♦ If the midwife recommends not exaggerating, use shallow breathing, in which there is no pressure of the diaphragm on the abdominal cavity (breathing with a "dog", sobbing).
♦ If you have to push, emphasis is on slow exhalation. In this case, the diaphragm presses against the abdominal cavity, helping the baby to be born (blowing out a candle, inflating a ball, step-out exhalation). Proper breathing will help the crotch tissues to stretch out in time and not to tear. In addition, you can use a warm compress on the crotch and salt baths.
The third period of childbirth
And now the baby was born! You hold it against you, put it to your chest! This feeling of happiness stimulates a powerful release into the bloodstream of a woman oxytocin (a hormone that reduces the uterus). This is a pledge of easy and painless separation and birth of the placenta - the third stage of labor. Pain exists only in resistance. Joy is only in acceptance. Even events filled with pain, Become joyous, When we accept them with an open heart. This poem by J. Rumi is very consonant with the idea of natural birth in general: the idea of acceptance, discovery and trust. Trust yourself, listen to your body! It will tell you the best way of anesthetizing.